Pattern control arrangement for circular knitting machines



E. RIBLER` PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FORl CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINESFiled April 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l FVG. zo

PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR .CIRCULAR KNITTIN MACHINES Filed April20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 5

I l 9 ig s Ach a l v l 7b 77a 9' 180 78 77 R PATTERN CONTROL ARRANCEMENTFCR CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINES Filed April 2o. 1964 Dec. 20, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 5 u NNN f) n n Dec. 20, 1966 l E, RlBLER 3,292,393

PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES n Filed April20, 1964 5 SheeZS-Shee(l 4 Y Dec. 20, 1966 E. RIBLER 3,292,393

PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F/GIO l A1h' al 216 217 2g 1 i 213m f5 \27g215 bd 11. 20,6 f'

Q15 1 i t 2720 20731 l 1 l I,

United States Patent O M 20 Claims. (Cl. 66-50) The present inventionrelates to a pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, andmore pa-rticularly to a program controlled apparatus provided at one orseveral knitting stations of a circular knitting machine for placingselected needle-influencing elements in an operative position for thepurpose of shifting correlated needles to the knit position.

Other non-selected needles are not shifted, or are shifted, for example,to the tuck position so that a predetermined pattern is knitted by theneedles of the machine.

In one known construction, a pattern wheel is provided at each knittingstation and mounted for rotation about an axis inclined at a small acuteangle to the axis of the kniting machine so that needle-influencingelements, commonly termed jacks raise the cylinder needles while movingin a plane slanted to the direction of movement of the cylinder needles.

In other known constructions, needle inuencing elements or jacks aremounted in the pattern wheels .for movement in axial direction and abutthe knitting needles and shift the same directly to the advancedposition when moving to the operative position.

Other known constructions provide needle-inuencing elements in thegrooves of the needle cylinder in which the needles are mounted, and themovement of the needleinfluencing elements to an operative positioneffects shifting of selected needles.

Pattern wheels with needle-induencing elements moving in the directionof the needles can also be provided for the dial of a circular knittingmachine for operating the dial needles in accordance with apredetermined pattern.

It is known to effect zthe movement of the needle-iniluencing elementsto an operative position by electromagnetic means which .are energizedand deenergized in accordance with a predetermined pattern and act onintermediate resilient members which cooperate with a needle-influencingelement to shift the same. The resilient members are engaged by a camafter a slight displacement, and the cam moves the resilient memberssuch a distance that vthe respective needle-influencing elements areshifted to the operative position. Pattern wheels of this type aredisclosed in our U.S. Patent 3,079,775.

It is one object of the invention to improve known program controlledpattern wheels, and to provide a pattern wheel which can be operated atvery high speed and eiects very rapid and reliable shifting of theneedle-iniluencing elements to the -operative position in which they areadapted to influence the needle movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pattern wheel in whichprogram controlled electro-magnetic means select or reject theneedle-influencing elements.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a pattern controlarrangement in which the movement of needle-induencing elements to anoperative position is rapidly accomplished by stored energy.

A related object of the invention is to tension a spring acting on eachneedle-inuencing element before the respective element arrives at aselect station, and to release the spring at the selecting station sothat the movement ice of the element toward the operative position isaccomplished by the released spring force.

Another object of the invention is to lock each springloaded elementbefore the same arrives at a selecting station, and to unlock or releaseselected elements at the selecting station for movement toward theoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pattern controlarrangement in which selected Vlocked springloaded elements are unlockedand released at a selecting station by electromagnetic means which areenergized and de-energized in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a patterncontrol arrangement for `a knitting machine, preferably a circularknitting machine having a cylinder with Vcylinder needles, and a dialwith dial needles. One embodiment comprises rotary carrier means, whichmay be part of a pattern wheel or part of the knitting cylinder of themachine; a set of needle-induencing elements supported on the carriermeans for rotation therewith past at least one selectingvstation, andfor movement thereon between an inoperative position, and an operativeposition adapted to displace a correlated needle either after turning toan operating station, or directly by moving in the same direction as theneedle; biasing means, preferably 'a set of independent springs, biasingthe needleinuencing elements to move toward the operative position;locking means, preferably a set of locking springs respectivelycooperating with the needle-inlluencing elements for lockingnon-selected elements in the inoperative position, and for releasingselected elements for movement toward the operative position; andcontrol means, preferably a program controlled electromagnetic meanslocated at the selecting station for moving the locking means betweenthe releasing and locking position in accordance with the predeterminedprogram causing energization Iand de-energization of the electromagneticmeans.

Cam means are provided on the stationary support of the carrier meansfor moving the needle-influencing elements to the inoperative position.before each element arrives at the selecting station so that therespective locking spring can lock the element in the inoperativeposition. In one embodiment of the invention, a stationary cam moves thelocking springs to the releasing position before the selecting stationwhere the electromagnetic means hol-d locking springs-cooperating withselected needleinfluencing elements in the releasing position but permitthe locking -springs of non-selected elements to remain in the lockingposition holding the respective needleinfluencing element in theinoperative position while passing through the selecting station.

While the operation of the locking springs by electromagnetic means ispreferred, mechanical means or Huid operated means may be provided atthe selecting station for operating the locking means. However, inaccordance With the invention the movement of the needle-influencingelements toward the operative position is accomplished by the energystored in biasing means before each needleinfluencing element arrives atthe selecting station.

In order to achieve a very rapid selection, the stored force of thebiasing means is used for moving the respective needle-influencingelement to an intermediate position only, and a stationary cam effectsmovement of needle-inuencing elements from the intermediate position, tothe operative position, which is particularly advantageous if theneedle-induencing elements shift correlated needles directly durin-gmovement Ifrom the intermediate position to the operative position sothat the :biasing means do not produce the vforce required for `shiftingthe needles.

In another embodiment of the invention in which the needles are shiftedby needle-influencing elements in the operative position due to the factthat the axi-s of the pattern wheel is inclined to the axis of theneedle cylinder, the stored force of the biasing means is advantageouslyused for moving the needle-influencing elements all the way to theoperative position. i

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best under-stood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic side view, and FIG. la is afragmentary schematic front view illustrating a circular knittingmachine with a pattern wheel arrangement to which the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGS. to 7 is applied;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic side view illustrating a circularknitting machine with a pattern wheel arrangement to which theembodiment of the invention v illustrated in FIG. 10 is advantageouslyapplied;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view of a circular knittingmachine provided with a pattern control arrangement to which theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is advantageously applied;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view of a circular knittingmachine provided with a pattern control arrangement according to theinvention;

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view illustrating a pattern Carrier member7 has a set of radially extending grooves in which needle-inuencingelements or jacks 1 are mounted for radial movement. Carrier member 7has projecting teeth 7 which are arranged alternating with and staggeredto the needle-influencing element 1 and mesh with butts, not shown, ofcylinder needles 2 so that the carrier With the needle-influencingelements 1 rotates in synchronism with the needle cylinder. A lockingspring 9 is correlated with each 'needle-influencing element 1, eachlocking spring 9 registering in a radial plane with the correspondingneedle-influencing element 1. The ends 9a of locking springs 9 areclamped between the annular plates 10a and 10, while the locking endportion 9b of each locking spring 9 has a projection located opposi-te arecess 1c in the respective element 1. recess 1c and the correspondinglocking portion 9b are slanted.

A set of biasing springs 11 is disposed on the lower side of carrier 7,each biasing spring 11 registering with a needle inuencing element in aradial plane and having a curved end portion engaging a recess 1a in thecorrelated element 1. The inner ends of the biasing springs 11 aresecured to carrier member 7 by the annular shielding plate 12.

` located under the lbutts 2a of the correlated cylinder wheel accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary developed sectional view taken on line VI-VI inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary developed plan view taken on line VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 comprises a series of fragmentary axial sectional views 8A, 8B,8C, 8D, 8E taken in angularly spaced radial planes passing through theaxis of the needle cylinder of a circular knitting Imachine constructedin accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary developed view taken in the direction of thearrow 9 in FIG. 8 and illustrating the shape of the cams on the camcylinder of the machine; and

FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view illustrating a pattern wheelaccording to a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and la, as well yas FIG. 5,illustrate a circularl knitting machine with a needle cylinder 3turnable about a vertical axis Y--Y and having axially extending groovesin which cylinder needles 2 are guided for vertical movement. At` eachknitting station around the needle cylinder, a pattern wheel is mountedvfor turning movement about an axis X-X which is inclined at an acuteangle to the axis of the needle cylinder, as best seen in FIG. 1a, sothat radially shiftable needle-influencing elements 1 move upward in aslanted plane during rotation of the pattern wheel whereby elements 1 inoperative positions located under butts 2a of associated needles 2,raise the respective needles to the knit position, whereas ,radiallyretracted elements 1 will not engage lbutts 2a, and consequently beinoperative to raise the needles. A force P urges the needle influencingelements 1 toward the operative position, as will now be described withreference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

A support includes a xed axle 6 whose axis X is inclined to the axis ofthe needle cylinder and to the needles 2, as explained with reference toFIG. 1a. A carrier means includes a hub 8 turnable about axle 6, acarrier member 7 xed to hub portion 8, a lower plate 12 secured byscrews 12a to carrier member 7, and two upper annular plate members 10and 10a secured by screws 10b to lcarrier member 7.

needles 2. Each element 1 can be shifted to an inner position in whichend portions 1b are spaced from butts 2a, and in this inoperativeposition, the locking portions 9b are located opposite recesses 1c, andbiasing springs 11 are tensioned and store energy so that the respectiveelement 1 tends to move from the inner inoperative position to the outeroperative position. Each locking spring 9b has a locking position inwhich locking portion 9b is located in the recess 1c of the correlatedelement 1 and holds the same in the inoperative position, but eachlocking spring 9 can be moved to a releasing position illustrated inFIG. 5 in which the biasing spring 11 of the respective element 1 isfree to shift the respective element 1 to the -outer operative position.Locking springs 9 are tensioned in the illustrated releasing positionand tend to move the locking position in which locking portion 9b islocated in recess 1c.

A fixed annular member 13 is secured to the supporting axle 6 and coversthe upper surface of rotary carrier means. Member 13 is for-med with aperipheral cutout 14 in which electromagnetic means 15 is mounted whichincludes two outer continuously energized magnets 15a and 15e, and anelectromagnetic selector means 15b whose core cooperates with the outerend portion of each locking spring 9 when the locking springssuccessively pass electromagnetic means 15b during rotation of thecarrier means about axis X relative to the fixed member 1-3. Cutout 14is closed by a member 14a, and a ring-shaped support 16 is secured tomember 13 and member 14a by screws l16a and has an inner lian'ge withtwo cams 17 and 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, cam 18 is located under the end portionsof locking springs 9 and has a raised portion 18a before the selectingstation S.S. where the electromagnetic means 15 is located. Duringrotation of the canier means with locking springs 9, each lockingspring, sliding along the raised portion 18a of cam 18 will Ibe pressedto the tensioned releasing position illustrated v in FIG. 5. The end ofthe camtrack of cam portion 'end of cam portion 18a it is still held :bythe magnetic means 15a, sliding on the same, until arriving at theelectromagnetic selector means 15b which is energized and deenergized invaccordance with a program. In the event that electromagnetic means 15bis energized, the respective locking spring 9 will slide on the armatureof electromagnetic means 15 until arriving at magnetic means 15o, whichis permanently energized, and holds such a locking spring 9 in theposition 9 until the respective locking springs moves to a positionlocated under a portion of lixed member 13 where it is released andassumes its normal lower position. If the respective correlatedneedle-inuencing element 1 is in the outwardly advanced operativeposition, docking portion 9b cannot snap into recess 1c, but will abutthe upper edge of the respective needle-influencing element 1. However,if the respective needle-influencing element 1 is in the innerinoperative position, locking portion 9b will fall into recess 1c andlock the respective needle-influencing element in the retractedinoperative position.

As best seen in FIG. 7, cam 17 has a raised inwardly projecting portionpreceding the selecting station S.S., and since during rotation of thecarrier means all needleinfluencing elements 1 will engage cam 17 withshoulders of recesses 1d, all elements 1 are moved inwardly to theretracted inoperative position before arriving at t-he selecting stationS.S.

Since a locking spring 9' which moved onto the lower surface ofelectromagnetic selector .means 15b when the same was yde-energized,resiliently moves to the lower position, it must fall into recess 1c 'ofthe correlated needle-iniluencing element 1, since all elements 1 areretracted to the inner inoperative position in which recess 1c registerswith the locking projection 9b of the respective locking spring.

Cam 17 has a slanted end face 17a so that each needleinuencing element1" whic-h was not locked in the inoperative position -by a :lockingspring in the position 9 is free to rapidly move in outward directionunder the action of the respective biasing spring 11 which was tensionedwhen the respective needle-iniiuencing element 1 was inwardly pushed bycam 17 in the region before the selecting station S.S. where theelectromagnetic selector means 15b is located.

The carrier means of the pattern wheel turns further beyond theselecting station with elements 1 arranged in operative and inoperativepositions in accordance with the predetermined pattern. The thusarranged elements 1 move along a plane slanted to the direction thecylinder needles 2, as best seen in FIG. la, and, consequently, theoperative needle elements 1 raise the respectivecorrelated needles tothe knit position. Elements 1 locked in the retracted inoperativeposition by the respective locking springs 9 at the selecting station,lare located too far inward to engage butts 2a, and consequently `cannotraise the needles, which may be operated by a cam in the cam cylinder ofthe machine to rise to the tuck position.

Selected locking springs 9" in operative positions will be released bymagnetic means 15C after further turning movement and will assume aposition in which locking portion 9b abuts the upper edge of thecorrelated element 1. Locking springs 9 of needle-influencing elementsin operative position will remain in this position until the respectiveelement 1 has turned with the carrier means almost one revolution and isagain engaged by cam 17 and pressed to the retracted inoperativeposition so that locking portion 9b can snap into the recess 1c beforearriving at the selecting station.

The electromagnetic selector means 15b is energized by command impulsesreceived from a program means which is controlled .by a tape or by aJacquard device. The speed of the tape, and the spacing of the controlmarks on the tape or card are selected in such a manner that a commandsignal can be given, or not given, whenever a needle inuencing element 1and the correlated locking spring 9 passes the selecting station withelectromagnetic selector means 15b. This arrangement is known andcorresponds to t-he manner in which the electromagnetic selector meansof the U.S. Patent 3,079,775 is controlled. However, while in thearrangement of the patent, the force of the electromagnetic selectormeans is used for shifting the needle-influencing elements, in thepresent invention the force for shifting the needle-inluencing elementis provided by biasing spring means 11, and the force for returning theelements to the inner inoperative position is provided by earn 18, whilethe electromagnetic means are used for controlling locking springs 9.FIGS. 5 to 7 disclose an arrangement in which biasing springs 11 shiftselected needle-inuencing elements 1 all the way to the operativeposition, but it is possible to modify the arrangement by permitting thebiasing springs to shift the needle-influencing elements only to anintermediate position where selected elements 1 are engaged by a camwhich gradually moves selected elements outward to the operativeposition, similar to the arrangement which will now be described withreference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, which, is schematically illustratedin FIG. 3, the carrier means for needleinuencing elements 1i forms partof needle cylinder 3 which has axially extending peripherally spacedgrooves 3'a in which cylinder needles 2 are mounted for axial movement.A cam cylinder 230 carries inner stationary cams 130 and 121 cooperatingwith butts 2 of needles 2 and located at a higher level, and cams 122and 120 cooperating with projections or butts 1i of needle-influencingelements 11' and located at a lower level. It will be nderstood that thecams extend substantially around the inner surface of the cam cylinder231), and that the butts of the needles and the needle-inlinencingelements move along the cams during the rotation of needle cylinder 3'.

Since elements 11' are located in the same axially extending grooves ascylinder needles 2, they can directly cooperate with the same to shiftthe cylinder needles in axial direction to a knit position. Section 8Ashows an element 1i in an inoperative position, while being urged by abiasing spring 111 to move upwards toward the foot end 2" of thecorrelated needle 2 whose butt 2' rests on cam 130, as also shown at Ain FIG. 9. Each element 1i cooperates with a locking spring 199 whoselower end is ixed to the carrier portion of the needle cylinder by aring-shaped member 131. The upper locking portion 109b of each lockingspring 109, abuts one edge of the correlated element 1i while beingresiliently tensioned. Consequently, when a needle-influencing element1i moves under the action of its biasing spring 111 to an intermediateposition shown in section 8B of FIG. 8, locking projection 1G9b can snapinto recess lic. In this locked position, the upper end of element 1i isspaced from the foot 2" of needle 2 whose butt 2 rides on cam 130. Inthe position shown in section 8C, the respective biasing spring 111 hasmoved a selected element 1i, which is not locked, to a higher positionin which its upper end abuts the foot 2" of a needle 2. In the nextfollowing position shown in section 8D, cam 120 has moved element 1i toan even higher operative position, and since element 11' engages needle2, needle 2 is shifted simultaneously to the knit position while itsbutt engages the lower face of stitch cam 121 which, as best seen inFIG. 9 lowers the needle until the same slides again on cam 130 in thelower cast olf position. At the same time, as shown in section 8E and inFIG. 9 at E, a return cam portion 122a of cam 122 engages projection 1iof element 1i to move the same downwardly to a retracted inoperativeposition, and since cam 122a merges into cam 122 which extends aroundthe entire circumference of the cam cylinder, all needleinfluencingelements 1i will arrive at A in FIG. 9 in the position shown in section8A.

Region B of FIG. 9 corresponding to section 8B, is a selecting stationwhere an electromagnetic means is provided. Electromagnetic means 115includes two continuously energized magnetic means 115a and 115e, and anelectromagnetic selector means 11Sb having an armature cooperating withlocking portion 109b of each locking spring 109 which passeselectromagnetic selector means 11Sb at a selecting station. While onlyone selecting station is illustrated in FIG. 9, it will be understoodthat several selecting stations may be provided around the circumferenceof the needle cylinder, each selecting station being provided on aknitting station of the circular knitting machine. The configuration ofcams 122, 122a, 130 and 121 will correspond at each knitting station andselecting station to the configuration shown in FIG. 9.

Cam 122 extends around the inner surface of the cam cylinder in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the needle cylinder 3, but in the region ofthe selecting station S.S., cam 122 has an upwardly slanted cam portion122', followed by a gap 132 between cam portion 122' and a raising cam120 which has a rising portion between points C and D in FIG. 9. Cam 120terminates after point D and is followed by the return cam 122a at pointE.

Cam 130 extends also in a plane .perpendicular to the axis of the needlecy'linder to point C and has between points C and D a rising cam portion130:1 which is designed to raise a needle whose butt 2 slides thereon tothe tuck posi-tion. Needles passing over the end of cam -portion 13011will be engaged by the lower face of stitch cam 121 and guided to aposition in wlhioh the butts thereof slidingly rest on the horizontalcam 130.

During rotation of the needle cylinder in a direction ofthe arrow inFIG. 9, t-he lower ends of needles returned by stitch cam 121 will pushcorresponding needleinfluencing elements 1i in the regions betweenpoints D and E in FIG. 9 to a |lower position so that the projections 1i`assume a lower position engaging the lower face of the slanted camportion 122a so that all elements 1i are .moved downwardly to theinoperative position shown in section 8A in FIG. 8. During such movementfrom the position shown in section 8E to the position s'hown in section8A, the locking portion 109b of the respective vlocking spring 109passes into the slanted recess lic of the respective element, but sincethe element moves downward, the slanted shoulders of recess lic .pressthe locking portion 10911 again out of the recess so that the lockingportion rests on the outer edge of the respective element 1i in theposition shown at A in FIG. '9, and in section 8A.

As will 'become apparent from the following description, non-selectedelements 1i lwill reach return cam portion 122a in the locking positionshown in section 8B in which locking portion 109b is Ilocated in thecorresponding recess lic in a locking position, as shown in section 8B.The downward slanting cam portion 122a will push elements 1i in thisposition downwardly to the position shown in section 8A so that theslanted shoulders of the -respective recess lic will also push the`locking portion 109b out of the recess and to a position slidinglyengaging the edge of the respective element 1, as shown i n section 8A.

All needle-inuencing elements 1i arrive in the region of the selectingstation at point B in the position shown -in section 8A, and since thebiasing springs 111 are tensioned in this lower inoperative position ofelements 11', project-ions 1i' press against the 'lower cam 'face of cam122, and all elements 1i Amove upward to an intermediate position whilethe projections 1i' slide along the short upwardly slanting cam portion122'.

Magnetic means 115:1v is a permanent magnet which acts on all lockingsprings 109 to hold the same in the position shown in section 8A, or tolbend 'locking spring 109 away from element 1i and to a positionslidingly abutting magnet 11511. Immediately thereafter, the lockingspring moves with the rotating needle cylinder to a position locatedopposite electromagnetic selector means 11Sb, and a selection is nowmade according to whether electromagnetic means b is energize-d, or notenergized from the ,program control device of the machine. Assuming thatelectromagnetic selector means 115b is energized, it will hold therespective llocking spring 109 slid- .ing thereon so that the respectiveneedle-iniluencing element 11' =is free to move upward when arriving atthe gap 132, and such upward movement is caused by the expansion of thebiasing spring 111.Y

Other needle-intluencing elements, which are not selected, passelectromagnetic selector means 115b while the same is de-energized, andresiliently snap into the recess lic of the respective correlate-delement 1i and assume the position shown in section 8B.

The non-selected elements 1i remain in the locked condition shown insection 8B while the needle cylinder As explained above, the lockingspring 109 of a selected element 1i lis Iheld by the energizedelectromagnetic selector means 115b, so that a selected e-leme-nt 1i ismoved Iby its biasing spring 111 in upward direction until its upper endengages the lfoot portion of the corresponding needle 2 while projection1i' moves through gap 132.

Even if the biasing spring 111 does not move the respeci tive element 1iso high, projection 1i' is immediately engaged =by the pointed end ofcam and moves along the upper surface of the' same first in a horizontalplane and then along the rising cam portion between points C and `D inFIG. 9 so that the ncedle-iniiuenc-ing element lis Igradually moved tothe lhighest operative position by calm 120 as shown Iin sections 8C and8D of FIG. 8. In the regionD, the needle is in the knit position, andits butt 2 is engage-d by the lower surface of the downwardly slantedstitch cam 121 so that the needle is lowered positively runtil butt 2'rests on the upper surface of the horizontal cam portion 130, remaining.in this position until approaching the next selecting station. Asexplained above, llocking portion 109b momentarily snaps into thecorresponding recess lic during the downward movement of the previouslyselected element 1i, but is pushed out again 'by the slanted shouldersof the recess to assume the .position shown in section 8A.

During the movement of a selected element 1i lin gap 132 onto thepointed end of cam 120, its locking spring 109 is held lby the permanentmagnet 115C, and when the respective selected element is positivelyguided on cam 120, locking spring 109 passes with the rotating carlrierbeyond the permanent magnet 115C and drops with its locking portion 109bonto the edge of the selected element 1i, as shown lin sections 8D and8E.

One selecting station provided with electromagnetic means 115 isillustrated, and corresponding selecting stations are provided along theperiphery of the needle cylinder, the number of the selected andknitting stations depending on the type of machine. Circular knittingmachines .for knitting hosiery will have fewer knitting stationsrequiring selection than very large machines having a great needlecylinder diameter. In machines of this type 600 selections per secondare carried out, Vand consequently it is of particular importance thatthe force of springs used rfor moving selected needle-inuencing elementstoward the operative positions since it is diicult to obtain lbyelectromagnetic means the required very rapid acceleration of theneedle-induencing elements.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 10, the cylinder needles are not raisedto the knit position due to the inclination of the pattern wheel axis tothe axis of the needle cylinder, as described with reference to FIGS. 1,

la 'and 5, but the needles are shifted in axial direction byneedle-influencing elements 1h moving in axial direction while rotatingwith the rotary carrier means of a pattern wheel whose axis is parallelto the axis of the needle cylinder. Referring particularly to FIG. l0,support means include a stationary cylindrical member 213 which issecured to a stationary member 206 mounted on the frame of the knittingmachine. Cylindrical member 213 defines an axis of rotation Z aboutwhich annular carrier means 207 rotate. Member 213 and the carrier meanscan be together removed from the cylindrical support 206 if it isdesired to replace or repair the pattern wheel. Cylindrical member 213has a cutout 213:1 in which electromagnetic means 215 are mounted.Electromagnetic means 215 include an electromagnetic selector means215b, and two permanently magnetized electromagnetic means 215a arrangedon opposite sides of electromagnetic selector means 215b incircumferential direction, substantially as described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 9. An annular member 216 is secured `to cylinder member 213,and has two cams 217 and 218 performing the functions of cams 17 and 18described with reference to FIG. 5. Cams 217 and 213 are located inhorizontal planes extending perpendicularly to the axis Z of the rotarycarrier means 207, cam 217 having a downwardly slanting cam `portionending in the region of the selecting station represented byelectromagnetic selector means 215 corresponding to the shape of cam 17,17a in FIG. 7, and cam 218 has an inwardly rising radial cam portionterminating in a circular cam track concentric with axis C so that theshape of cam 4218 corresponds to the shape of cam 18 shown in FIG. 6,cam 218 ending corresponding to the end 18a of cam 18, in the region ofone of the magnetic means 215a before theselecting station representedby electromagnetic selector means b.

Carrier 207 and its outer annular portion 20741 are connected by acircular shield plate 212 secured by screws 212a to the carrier means,and clamping a set of biasing spring 211 whose curved upper ends engage,respectively, recesses in correlated needle-inlinencing elements 1h. Theneedle-influencing elements are mounted in axially extending grooves ofcarrier means 207, 207a for movement in axial direction between a lowerinoperative position in which the respective bi-asing spring 211 istensioned, and the higher operative position in which its horizontalprojection 1h engages butt 2g of the correlated cylinder needle 2 frombelow to shift the same upward to the knit position. When anyneedle-influencing element 1h is in the lower inoperative position, notshown, the respective biasing spring 211 is tensioned and stores energywhich is released when the respective needle-influencing element 1h ismoved upward to t'he operative position.

Annular members 210 and 210a clamp the lower portions of locking springs209 to carrier 207 so that locking springs 209 rotate with theneedle-inuencing elements 1h in positions registering with the same inradial planes passing through the axis Z. In the illustrated position ofelement 1h, the locking portion 209b is located opposite the edge ofelement 1h, but in the lower inoperative position of element 1h, lockingportion 209b is located opposite recess 201e and can snap into the sameto lock the respective correlated element 1h in the inoperativeposition.

As long as cam 218 engages the end portion of a locking spring 209, thesame is held in the releasing position shown in FIG. l() and cannot moveto a position engaging the correlated element 1h.

A gear portion 207i) on carrier 207 meshes with a corresponding gearportion 3b on needle cylinder 3 so that the carrier, theneedle-influencing elements 1h, the locking springs 209, and biasingsprings 211 rotate in synchronism with the needle cylinder in such amanner that the horizontal projections 1h' and the butts 2g of needles 2are located in a common plane passing through 10 the axes of the patternWheel and of the needle cylinder.

The angular spacing between elements 1h is the same as the angularspacing of needles 2 of the needle cylinder so that successive needlesand needle-inueucing elements assume the position shown in FIG. 10 forthe common axial plane, and the electromagnetic selecting means 215b arelocated in the same plane.

During rotation of the needle cylinder and carrier means, the lockingsprings 209 `approaching the selecting station are pressed inwardly bycam 218 so that each locking spring is in the releasing position shownin FIG. l0 and irst slides along the core of the parmanently magneticmeans 215a and is held by the same after passing lbeyond the end of theraised cam portion 218, similar as explained with reference to FIG. 6.The turning carrier moves the thus held locking springs 209 onto theelectromagnetic selector means 15b which are energized and de-energizedin accordance with a predetermined pattern by pattern control meansresponding to a control tape or card. Assuming that electromagneticselector means 213b is energized when a locking spring slides thereon incircumferential direction, the locking spring is held in the releasingyposition when the respective needle-influencing element 1h passesthrough the selecting station.

While approaching the selecting station, each needleinuencing element,and more particularly a shoulder of a recess therein, is engaged by cam217 whose downwardly projecting oam portion presses all elements 1h tothe lower inoperative position while tensioning therespective biasingsprings 211. The shape of cam 217 corresponds to the shape of cam 17shown in FIG. 7, and cam 217 terminates in the region of the selectingstation, but behind electromagnetic selecting means 215b so thatselected elements 1h whose locking springs 209 are held byelectromagnetic selector means 215b in the releasing position shown inFIG. l0, move rapidly upward to the operative position when released bythe free end of cam 217, and during such upward movement, the horizontalprojection 1h engaging butt 2g of the correlated needle 2, raises needle2 to the knit position.

However, if electromagnetic selector means 215b is not energized when anon-selected element 1h passes the selecting station, then thecorresponding locking means 209 passing from the leading permanentmagnet 215:1 onto electromagnetic selector means 21513, is not held bythe same and moves dueto its resilient .tension to a locking position inwhich locking portion 209b projects into the recess 201C of thecorrelated element 1h and locks the same in the inoperative positionwhile the same is still held in this position by the projecting camportion of cam 217. Of course, element 1h thus locked by the lockingspring 209 cannot move upward when passing with the rotating carrierbeyond the end of cam 217, but remain locked in the inoperative positionwhile .travelling with the rotating carrier one revolution until againarriving in the region of cam 218 which operates all locking springs 209to at least temporarily release the corresponding elements 1h.

The selected elements 1h which are in the operative position whenpassing beyond the selecting station are pushed back in the inoperativeposition by cam 217 before arriving at .the selecting station. Lockingsprings 209 of selected elements 2h slide rst along electromagneticselector means 215b, and then along the permanent magnet 215:1 on theother side of electromagnetic means 215b and corresponding to thepermanent magnet 15e in FIG. 6. After a locking spring 209 has beenturned by the rotating carrier beyond the second permanent magnet, it isreleased and moves ydue to its resilient tension toward thecorresponding element 1h, ibut since the same is in the higher operativeposition, looking portion 209b abuts thhe edge of the element in theregion below recess 201C. When cam 217 moves the respective element 1hback -to the lower inoperative position, recess 201C is moved to aposition in which locking portion 209b can snap into the same, iflocking spring 209 is not held by electromagnetic selector means 215b.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the force of the releasedbiasing spring 211 is used for shifting the respective selected element1h, and for raising the corresponding selected needle 2 to the knitposition. However, similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, acam corresponding to cam 120 may be provided following the selectingstation, and positioned in relation to cam 217 as is cam 120 to cam 122and 122 in FIG. 9, so that the force of the -biasing 211 is used formoving the selected element 1h through a gap whereupon the Y furthermovement of the selected element is accomplished by a rising cam,corresponding to cam 120, whereby the lforoe for raising the needle isnot provided 'by biasing spring 211, but by the drive means which rotatethe pattern wheel with the needle-influencing elements since theneedle-influencing elements are forced to travel upward along theabove-mentioned cam along `which they are carried by the rotary drivencarrier of the pattern wheel.

As noted above, the energizing and de-energizing of electromagneticselector means is carried out in all ernbodiments of the invention byprogram controlled means which sense Jacquard cards or program tapes,preferably film tapes. Due to the high speed of operation, which may lbe600 impulses and selection per second, electronic control of theelectromagnetic selector means is preferred, and, for example, a filmtape, driven from the needle cylinder, may have control marks in theform of small transparent rectangles forming a plurality of programtracks respectively sensed by sensing means associated with the severalknitting stations and corresponding electromagnetic selector means. Thesensing means preferably include an optical sensing system including asource of light projecting a beam toward the respective sensed track,and a photocell producing an impulse when light passes through atransparent mark of the respective program track. Any electric impulseis amplied in a transistor amplier, and supplied to the electromagneticselector means at the respective knitting and selection station. Thisarrangement is not an object of the invention, and consequently notillustrated.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 10, the needle cylinder rotates aboutan axis Y--Y, and the pattern wheel rotates about an axis Z--Z parallelto the axis of the needle cylinder so that the axially movingneedleinfluencing elements 1h can directly shift the cylinder needles tothe desired knit position.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3, 8 and 9, the needleinfluencing elements 1iare not mounted in a pattern wheel, but in an annular carrier whichrotates about the axis Y-Y so that the needle-influencing elements 1ican 'be disposed in the same axial grooves as the cylinder needles 2 fordirectly shifting the same.

In the same manner as the cylinder needles are shifted in theembodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, selected dial .needles can be shifted inaccordance with al predetermined pattern, and such an arrangement isschematically illustrated in FIG. 4. The dial 4 rotates about the axisY--Y in synchronism with the needle cylinder 3, and has radial groovesin which the dial needles 5 are mounted for radial movement betweeninner and outer positions. Needle-influencing elements 1K are vmovablein radial grooves of a rotary carrier, and at a selecting stationthrough which every needle-influencing element 1K passes, a selection ismade so that the needle-influencing elements 1K of selected dial needles5 move in radial direction to engage the butt of the respective dialneedle 5 and to shift the same outwardly. FIG. 4 schematicallyillustrates by arrow P the force of the biasing springs described withreference to the other embodiments.

If the principle of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 10 is applied, atleast one pattern wheel is provided with a carrier rotatable about anaxis parallel to the axis Y-Y, but the construction of FIG. 5 is used.The

needle-influencing elements are mounted in radial grooves of a rotarycarrier, associated with locking springs, con` tl'olled by cams, andheld by the locking springs in the inoperative inner position unlessreleased under control of electromagnetic selecting means to move inradial direction under the action of the biasing spring thereof. Eachselected needle-influencing element moves in radial ydirection in theradial plane of the selecting station, and shifts the correspondingneedle 5 outwardly by engaging its butt.

If the principle of FIG. 3 is applied, a ring-shaped carrier is securedto the dial 4 and rotates about the axis Y-Y in synchronism with thesame. However, a construction corresponding to FIG. 5 is used for movingse-k lected needle-influencing elements in radial direction when passingat a selecting station through a radial plane, so

that selected elements engage the butts of the correspondt ing dialneedles 5 and shift the same outwardly. These constructions are notillustrated in detail, since those skilled in the art will know how toadapt the construction of FIG. 5 for the purpose of operating the dialneedles by direct radial shifting by selected needle-influencingelements which are urged outwardly by biasing springs, and are unlockedat the selecting station to shift the corresponding dial needles.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofpattern control arrangement differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in apattern control arrangement including needle-influencing elements inwhich energy is stored which is released at a selectingstation to moveselected elements to an operative position, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, carrier means mounted for rotation; a set ofneedle-influencing elements supported on said carrier means for rotationtherewith past at least one selecting station and for movement thereonbetween an inoperative position and an operative position adapted tocause displacement of a correlated needle; biasing means for biasingsaid needle-influencing elements to move toward said operative position;means for moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; locking means mounted on saidcarrier means movable between a locking position for lockingnon-selected needle-influencing elements in said inoperative position,and a releasing position re,

leasing selected needle-influencing elements for movement toward saidoperative position; and control means located at said selecting stationfor moving said locking means between said releasing and lockingpositions in accordance with a predetermined program.

2. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting rna-` chine, comprising,in combination, support means; carrier means mounted on said supportmeans for rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported onsaid carrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selectingstation and for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;biasing means disposed on said carrier means and biasing saidneedle-inuencing elements to move toward said operative position; meansfor moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; a set of locking means mounted onsaid carrier means in positions registering with said needle-inuencingelements, respectively, each locking means being movable between alocking position for locking the respective needle-influencing elementin said inoperative position, and a releasing position releasing therespective needle-influencing element for movement toward said operativeposition; and control means located at said selecting station for movingsaid locking means individually between said releasing and lockingpositions in accordance with a predetermined program.

3. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, carrier means mounted for rotation; a set ofneedle-influencing elements supported on said carrier means for rotationtherewith past at least one selecting station and for movement thereonbetween an inoperative position and an operative position adapted tocause displacement of a correlated needle; biasing means for biasingsaid needle-intluencing elements to move toward said operative position;means for moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; locking means mounted on saidcarrier means movable between a locking position for lockingnon-selected needle-inuencing elements in said inoperative position, anda releasing position releasing selected needle-inuencing elements formovement tov ward said operative position; and control means includingelectromagnetic selector means located at said selecting station formoving said locking means between said releasing and locking positions,said electromagnetic selector means being adapted to be energized anddeenergized in accordance with a predetermined program.

4. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selecting stationand for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;biasing means disposed on said carrier means and biasing saidneedle-inuencing elements to move toward said operative position; meansfor moving said needle-inuencing elements before said selecting stationto said inoperative position; a set of locking means mounted on saidcarrier means in positions registering with said needle-influencingelements, respectively, each locking means being movable between alocking position for locking the respective needleinfluencing element insaid inoperative position, and a releasing position releasing therespective needle-iniiuencing element for movement toward said operativeposition; and control means including electromagnetic selector meanslocated at said selecting station for moving said locking meansindividually between said releasing and locking positions, saidelectromagnetic selector means being adapted to be energized anddeenergized in accordance with a predetermined program.

5. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selecting stationand for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;a set of biasing spring means secured to said carrier means in positionsregistering with said needle-influencing elements and respectivelyindividually biasing said needle-inuencing elements to move toward saidoperative position; stationary cam means disposed on said support meansfor moving said needle-induencing elements before-said selecting stationto said inoperative position; a set of locking means mounted on saidcarrier means in positions registering with said needle-influencingelements, respectively, each locking means being movable between alocking position for locking the respective needle-inuencing element insaid inoperative position, and a releasing position releasing therespective needle-inuencing element for movement toward said operativeposition; and control means located at said selecting station for movingsaid locking means individually between said releasing and lockingpositions in accordance with a predetermined program.

6. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selecting stationand for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;biasing means disposed on said carrier means and biasing saidneedle-influencing elements to move toward said operative position;means for moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; a set of locking spring meansmounted on said carrier means in positions registering with saidneedle-influencing elements, respectively, each locking `spring meansbeing movable between a locking position for locking the respectiveneedle-iniiuencing element in said inoperative position, and a releasingposition releasing the respective needleinfluencing element for movementtoward said operative position, said locking spring means beingtensioned in one of said positions thereof and tending to assume theother position; and control means located at said selecting station formoving selected locking spring means individually to said one positionso that non-selected locking spring means move to said other positionthereof in accordance with a predetermined program.

7. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-inuencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selectingstationl and for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement .of a correlatedneedle; biasing means disposed on said carrier means and biasing saidneedleinuencing elements to move toward said operative position; meansfor moving said needle-iniiuencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; a set of locking spring meansmounted on said carrier means in positions registering with saidneedle-influencing elements, respectively, each locking spring meansbeing movable between a locking position for locking the respectiveneedle-influencing element in said inoperative position, and a tensionedreleasing position releasing the respective needle-influencing elementfor movement toward said operative position, said locking spring meanstending to assume said locking position; and control means located atsaid selecting station for moving selected locking spring means only tosaid releasing position so that non-selected locking spring means moveto said locking position thereof in accordance with a predeterminedprogram.

8. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selecting stationand for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;biasing means disposed on said carrier means and biasing saidneedle-influencing elements to move toward said operative position;means for moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; a set of lock- 15 ing spring meansmounted on said carrier means in positions registering with saidneedle-inuencing elements, respectively, each locking spring means beingmovable between a locking position for locking the respectiveneedle-inuencing element in said inoperative position, and a tensionedreleasing position releasing the respective needle-influencing elementfor movement toward said operative position, said locking spring meanstending to assume said locking position; and control means including cammeans for moving each locking spring means successively to saidreleasing position before arriving at said selecting station, andelectromagnetic means located at said selecting station for holdingselected locking spring means only to said releasing position so thatnon-selected locking spring means move to said locking position thereof,said electromagnetic means being adapted to be energized and deenergizedin accordance with a predetermined program.

9. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selecting stationand for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;aset of biasing spring means secured to said carrier means in positionsregistering with said needle-influencing elements and respectivelyindividually biasing said needle-influencing elements to move towardsaid operative position; stationary ca-m means disposed on said supportmeans for moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; a set of locking spring meansmounted on said carrier means in positions registering with saidneedle-influencing elements, respectively, each locking spring meansbeing movable between a locking position for locking the respectiveneedle-inuencing element in said inoperative position, and a tensionedreleasing position releasing the Irespective needle-influencing elementfor movement toward said operative position, said locking spring meanstending to assume said locking position; and control means including cammeans for moving each locking spring means successively to saidreleasing position before arriving at said selecting station, andelectromagnetic means located at said selecting station for holdingselected locking spring means only to said releasing position so thatnon-selected locking spring means move to said locking position thereof,said electromagnetic means being adapted to be energized and deenergizedin accordance with a predetermined program.

10. A pattern control arrangement for a knitting machine, comprising, incombination, support means; carrier means mounted on said support meansfor rotation; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on saidcarrier means for rotation therewith past at least one selecting stationand for movement thereon between an inoperative position and anoperative position adapted to cause displacement of a correlated needle;a set of biasing spring means secured to said carrier means in positionsregistering with said needle-influencing elements and respectivelyindividually biasing said needle-inuencing elements to move toward saidoperative position; stationary cam means disposed on said support meansfor moving said needle-influencing elements before said selectingstation to said inoperative position; a set of locking spring meansmounted on said carrier means in positions registering with saidneedle-influencing elements, respectively, each locking spring meansbeing movable between a locking position for locking the respectiveneedle-influencing element in said inoperative position, and a tensionedreleasing position releasingthe respective needle-intiuencing elementfor movement toward said operative position, said locking spring meanstending to assume said locking position; and control means including cammeans for moving each locking spring means successively to Saidreleasing position before arriving at said selecting station, andelectromagnetic means located at said selecting station for holdingselected locking spring means only to said releasing position so thatnon-selected locking spring means move to said locking position thereof,said electromagnetic means being adapted to -be energized anddeenergized in accordance with a predetermined program, said controlmeans including two magnetic means disposed at said selecting stationbefore and behind said electromagnetic means adjacent to the same forholding all said locking spring means and only said selected lockingspring means in said releasing position.

11. A pattern wheel arrangement for a knitting machine having needles,comprising, in combination, support means including a fixed member;selector means mounted on said support means and being operable betweena selecting condition and an inoperative condition; a carrier mounted onsaid support means for rotation; a set of needle-influencing elementssupported on said carrier for rotation therewith past said selectormeans, and for movement on said carrier between an inoperative positionand an operative position for displac-` region of said selector means; aset of locking springs mounted on said carrier in positions registeringwith said elements, respectively, each locking spring having a fixed endportion secured to said carrier end and a locking portion and having anormal locking position for locking the respective element by saidlocking portion, and a tensioned releasing position releasing therespective element for movement to said operative position; and secondcam means secured to said member for moving said locking portions ofsaid locking springs successively to said releasing position beforearriving at said selector means during rotation of said carrier, saidselector means holding in said selecting condition passing lockingsprings in said releasing position so as to permit movement of passingselected needle-inuencing elements to said operative position, andpermitting in said inoperative position passing locking springs to moveto said locking position to lock non-selected elements in saidinoperative position.

12. A pattern wheel arrangement foria knitting machine having needlesrotatable about an axis, comprising, in combination, support meansincluding a fixed member and mounted at a knitting station of themachine; electromagnetic selector means mounted on said support meansand being operable between an energized selecting condition and ade-ene-rgized inoperative condition; a car-rier mounted on said supportmeans for rotation about an axis extending at an acute angle to saidaxis; a set of needle-influencing elements supported on said carrier forrotation therewith past said selector means, and for radial movement onsaid carrier between an inoperative position and an operative positionyfor displacing a correlated needle while turning with said carrier;biasing means for biasing said needle-infinencing elements to move tosaid operative position; first partly circular cam means secured to saidmember vfor moving said elements to said inoperative position beforepassing said selector means and shaped to permit movement of saidelements to said operative position in the region of said selectormeans; a set of locking springs mounted on said carrier in positionsregistering with said elements, Irespectively, each locking springhaving a fixed end portion secured to said carrier end and a lockingportion and having a normal locking position for locking the respectiveelement by said locking portion, and a tensioned releasing positionreleasing the respective element for movement to said operativeposition; and second partly circular cam means secured to said memberfor moving said locking portions 17 of said locking springs successivelyto said releasing position before arriving at said selector means duringrotation of said carrier, said electromagnetic selector means holding insaid selecting condition passing locking springs in said releasingposition so as to permit movement of passing selected needle-influencingelements to said operative position, and permitting in said inoperativeposition passing locking springs to move to said locking position tolock non-selected elements in said inoperative position.

13. A pattern wheel arrangement for a knitting machine having needlesrotatable about an axis, comprising, in combination, support meansincluding a iixed plate and mounted at -a knitting station of themachine; electromagnetic selector means mounted on said plate and beingoperable :between an energized selecting condition and a de-energizedinoperative condition; a carrier mounted on said support means forrotation about an axis extending at an acute angle to said axis; a setof needleinuencing elements supported on said carrier for rotationtherewith past said selector means, and for radial movement on saidcarrier between an inoperative position and an operative position fordisplacing a correlated needle while turning with said carrier, saidelements having recesses; a set of biasing spring means for biasing saidneedle-induencing elements to move to said operative position; firstpartly circular cam means secured to said plate located in said recessesfor moving said elements to said inoperative position before passingsaid selector means and shaped to permit movement of said elements tosaid operative position in the region of said selector means; a set oflocking springs mounted on said carrier in positions registering withsaid elements, respectively, each locking spring having a fixed endportion secured to said carrier end and a locking portion and having anormal locking position engaging other recesses of said recesses forlocking the respective element by said locking portion, and a tensionedreleasing position releasing the respective element for movement to saidoperative position; and second partly circular cam means secured to saidplate for moving said locking portions of said locking springssuccessively to said releasing position before arriving at said selectormeans during rotation of said carrier, said electromagnetic selectormeans holding in said selecting condition passing locking springs insaid releasing position so as to permit movement of passing selectedneedle-inuencing elements to said operative position, and permitting insaid inoperative position passing locking springs to move to saidlocking position to lock non-selected elements in said inoperativeposition.

14. A pattern wheel arrangement for a knitting machine having needlesrotatable about an axis, comprising, in combination, support meansincluding a xed member and mounted at a knitting station of the machine;electromagnetic selector means mounted on said support means and beingoperable between an energized selecting condition and a fle-energizedinoperative condition; a carrier mounted on said support means forrotation about an axis extending parallel to said axis; a set ofneedle-influencing elements supported on said carrier for rotationtherewith past said selector means, and for radial movement on saidcarrier between an inoperative position and operative position fordisplacing a correlated needle in axial direction; biasing means for:biasing said needleinuencing elements to move to said operativeposition; first cam means secured to said member for moving saidelements to said inoperative position before passing said selector meansand shaped to permit movement of said elements to said operativeposition in the region of said selector means; a set of locking springsmounted on said carrier in positions registering with said elements,respectively, each locking spring having a fixed end portion secured tosaid carrier end and a locking portion and having a normal lockingposition for locking the respective element by said locking portion, anda tensionedrreleasing position releasing the respective element formovement to said operative position; and second cam means secured tosaid member for moving said locking portions of said locking springssuccessively to said releasing positionl before arriving at saidselector means during rotation of said carrier, said electromagneticselector means holding in said selecting condition passing lockingsprings in said releasing position so as to permit movement of passingselected needle-inuencing elements to said operative position, andpermitting in said inoperative position passing locking springs to moveto said locking position to lock non-selected elements in saidinoperative position.

15. A pattern wheel arrangement for a knitting machine having a needlecylinder and cylinder needles rotatable about an axis, comprising incombination, support means including a fixed cylinder member having anaxis parallel to said axis and mounted at a knitting station of themachine; electromagnetic selector means mounted on said cylinder mem-berand lbeing operable between an energized selecting condition and ade-energized inoperative condition; a carrier =of annular shapesurrounding said cylindrical member and mounted on said support meansfor rotation, said selector means being located in a plane passingthrough said axes; a set of needle-inhuencing elements supported on saidcarrier for rotation therewith past said selector means, and forparallel movement on said carrier between an inoperative position and anoperative position for displacing a correlated needle, said elementshaving recesses, and radial projections outwardly projecting beyond saidcarrier for cooperation with the needles; biasing means for biasing saidneedleinuencing elements to move to said operative position; iirst cammeans secured to said cylindrical member located in said recesses formoving said elements to said inoperative position before passing saidselector means and shaped to permit movement of said elements to saidoperative position in the region of said selector means; a set oflocking springs mounted on said carrier in positions registering withsaid elements, respectively, each locking spring having a fixed endportion secured to said carrier end and a locking portion and having anormal locking position engaging other recesses of said recesses forlocking the respective element by said locking portion, and a tensionedreleasing position releasing the respective element for movement to saidoperative position; and second cam means secured to said cylindricalmember for moving said locking portion of said locking springssuccessively to said releasing position before arriving at said selectormeans during rotation of said carrier, said electromagnetic meansholding in said selecting condition passing locking springs in saidreleasing position so as to permit movement of passing selectedneedle-influencing elements to said operative position, and permittingin said inoperative position passing locking springs to move to saidlocking position to lock non-selected elements in said inoperativeposition.

16. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, support meansincluding a cam cylinder; selector means mounted on said cam cylinder atat least one knitting station and being operable between a selectingcondition and an inoperative condition; a needle cylinder mounted onsaid support means for rotation and having axially extending grooves;needles guided in said grooves for axial movement and for rotation withsaid needle cylinder; a set of needle-influencing elements mounted insaid grooves for rotation with said needle cylinder, and for axialmovement between an inoperative position and an operative position forshifting the correlated needle in the respective groove; biasing meansfor biasing said needle-influencing elements to move to said operativeposition; cam means secured to said cam cylinder for moving saidelements to said inoperative position before passing said selector meansand shaped to permit movement of said elements to said operativeposition in the region of said selector means; a set of locking springsmounted on said carrier in positions registering with said elements,respectively, each locking spring having a fixed end portion secured tosaid carrier end and a locking portion and having a normal lockingposition for locking the respective element by said locking portion, anda tensioued releasing position releasing the respective element formovement to said operative position; and said selector means moving andholding in said selecting condition passing locking springs in saidreleasing position so as to permit movement of'passing selectedneedle-inuencing elements to said operative position, and permitting insaid inoperative position passin-g locking sprin-gs to move to saidlocking position to lock non-selected elements in said inoperativeposition.

v17. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, support meansincluding a cam cylinder; selector means mounted on said cam cylinder atat least one knitting station and being operable between a selectingcondition and an inoperative condition; a needle cylinder mounted onsaid support means for rotation and having axially extending grooves;needles guided in said grooves for axial movement and for rotation withsaid needle cylinder; a set of needle-intluencin-g elements mounted insaid grooves for rotation with said needle cylinder, and for axialmovementbetween an inoperative position and an operative position forshifting the correlated needle in the respective groove; biasing meansfor biasing said needle-influencing elements to move `to said operativeposition; cam means secured to said cam cylinder for moving saidelements to said inoperative position before passing said selector meansand shaped to permit movement of said elements to an intermediateposition in the region of said selector means so that an element in saidintermediate position abuts a correlated needle; other cam means securedto said cam cylinder following said region and shaped to move saidelements from said intermediate position to an operative position forshifting the correlated needles to a knit position; a set of lockingsprings mounted on said carrier in positions registering with saidelements, respectively, each locking spring having a fixed end portionsecured to said carrier end and a locking portion and having a normallocking position for locking the respective element by said lockingportion, and a tensioned releasing position releasing the respectiveelement for movement to said operative position; and said selector meansmoving and holding in said-selecting condition passing locking springsin said releasing position so as to permit movement of passing selectedneedle-influencing elements to said operative position, and permittingin said inoperative position passing locking springs to move to saidlocking position to lock non-selected elements in said inoperativeposition.

18. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, support meansincluding a cam cylinder; electromagnetic means mounted on said camcylinder at at least one knitting station and being operable between anenergized condition and an inoperative condition; a needle cylindermounted on said support means for rotation and having axially extendinggrooves; needles guided in -said grooves rfor axial movement and forrotation with said needle cylinder; a set of needle-infinencing elementsmounted in said grooves for rotation with said needle cylinder, and f oraxial movement between an inoperative position and an operative positionfor shifting the correlated needle in the respective groove; a set ofbiasing spring means for biasing said needle-inuencing elements to moveto said operative position; cam means secured to said cam cylinder formoving said elements to said inoperative position before passing saidselector means and shaped to permit movement of said elements to anintermediate position in correlated needles to a knit position; a set oflocking springs mounted on said carrier in positions registering withsaid elements, respectively, each locking spring having a xed endportion secured to said carrier end and a locking portion and having anormal locking position for locking the respective element by saidlocking portion, and a tensioned releasing position releasing therespective element for movement to said operative position; and saidselector means moving and holding in said selecting condition passinglocking springs in said releasing position so as to permit movement ofpassing selected needleinfluencing elements to said operative position,and permitting in said inoperative position passing locking springs tomove to said locking position to lock non-selected elements in saidinoperative position.`

19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 and including two magnetic meanslocated before and behind said electromagnetic means in the direction ofrotation of said carrier adjacent the same and being continuouslyenergized.

20. A pattern wheel arrangement for a knitting machine having a dialwith dial needles rotatable about an axis, comprising, in combination,support means including a fixed member; selector means mounted on saidsupport means and being operable between a selecting condition and aninoperative condition; a carrier mounted on said support means forrotation about an axis extending in the direction of said axis; a set ofneedle-induencing elements supported on said carrier for rotationtherewith past said selector means, and for radial movement on saidcarrier between an inoperative position and an operative position fordisplacing a correlated needle; ybiasing means for biasing saidneedle-infinencing elements to move to said operative position; firstcam means secured to said member for moving said elements to saidinoperative position before passing said selector means and shaped topermit movement of said elements to said operative position in theregion of said selector means; a set of locking springs mounted on saidcarrier in positions registering with said elements, respectively, eachlocking spring having a fixed end portion secured to said carrier endand a locking portion and having a normal locking position for lockingthe respective element by said locking portion, and a tensionedreleasing position releasing the respective element for movement to saidoperative position; and second cam means secured to said member formoving -said locking i portions of said locking springs successively tosaid releasing position before arriving at said selector means duringrotation of said carrier, said selector means holding in said selectingcondition passing locking springs in said releasing position so as topermit movement of passing selected needle-influencing elements to saidoperative position, and permitting in said inoperative position passinglocking springs to move to said locking position to lock non-selectedelements in said inoperative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,173,488 9/1939Tandler et a1 66-50 3,079,775 3/1963 Schaeder et al. 66-50 3,170,3122/1965 stock 66-50 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PATTERN CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR A KNITTING MACHINE, COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION, CARRIER MEANS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION; A SET OFNEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS SUPPORTED ON SAID CARRIER MEANS FOR ROTATIONTHEREWITH PAST AT LEAST ONE SELECTING STATION AND FOR MOVEMENT THEREONBETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION ADAPTED TOCAUSE DISPLACEMENT OF A CORRELATED NEEDLE; BIASING MEANS FOR BIASINGSAID NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS TO MOVE TOWARD SAID OPERATIVE POSITION;MEANS FOR MOVING SAID NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS BEFORE SAID SELECTINGSTATION TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION; LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAIDCARRIER MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN A LOCKING POSITION FOR LOCKINGNON-SELECTED NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTS IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION,AND A RELEASING POSITION RELEASING SELECTED NEEDLE-INFLUENCING ELEMENTSFOR MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID OPERATIVE POSITION; AND CONTROL MEANS LOCATEDAT SAID SELECTING STATION FOR MOVING SAID LOCKING MEANS BETWEEN SAIDRELEASING AND LOCKING POSITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PREDETERMINEDPROGRAM.